A masterpiece created by Tiki godfather Donn Beach during the Second World War, Three Dots and a Dash means “Victory” in Morse Code. It is an apt moniker for this drink. While not something you will see on many cocktail menus, it is a foundational tiki drink and one of my favorites to make at home.
3 Dots and a Dash
Equipment
- Mixer
- Footed Pilsner Glass
- 1 Cocktail Pick for garnish
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces Martinique Rhum Agricole Vieux I use Rhum Clement 10 year
- .5 ounce Blended Aged Rum I used Appleton Estate 12 year
- .5 ounce Honey Syrup 1:1 honey/water
- .25 ounce St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
- .25 ounce Falernum I use Latitude 29
- .5 ounce Orange Juice freshly squeezed
- .5 ounce Lime Juice freshly squeezed
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- 3 Marachino Cherries garnish
- 1 Pineapple Chunk garnish
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a mixer tin
- Add 12 oz of crushed ice.
- Flash blend using a drink mixer for five seconds.
- Open pour into a footed pilsner glass.
- Top with crushed ice if desired.
- Garnish: Three maraschino cherries and a pineapple chunk speared on a cocktail pick
Flavor Profile:
Rich and Smooth
My Take:
While seemingly nothing groundbreaking in terms of Tiki drinks, Three Dots and a Dash uses the grassy, cane sugar forward Martinique Rhum Agricole Vieux. This uncommon spirit gives the drink a unique flavor that I haven’t found duplicated in any other cocktail. This rhum stands up to the use of multiple juices and falernum. Bringing us back to Jamaica, I use my old-standby Appleton Estate 12-year along with the allspice dram which gives balance to that grassy funk. It’s not a sweet drink by any means, but honey syrup does provide just enough to make Three Dots and a Dash shine.
Music Pairing
Squirrel Nut Zippers “Hell” from the album Hot (1996, Mammoth)
I just recently discovered this retro swing-style jazz band. This mid-90’s release will have you believing it’s the 1940’s and makes a perfect accompaniment to Three Dots and a Dash.
Cheers!
